A number of states throughout the nation have been busy this week, as bills related to gambling have been filed, marking a possible want for stronger laws or new introductions within the trade.
Representatives throughout Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, New York, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Missouri have made the filings.
Which US states have filed playing payments in 2026?
Virginia
Probably the most vital, if it have been to be introduced in, is the invoice in Virginia, the House Bill 161, which might see web gaming within the Commonwealth licensed and controlled by the Virginia Lottery Board.
From the US Poker Neighborhood Discord, A invoice was proposed within the Virginia legislature to legalize on-line poker, be part of the MSIGA and ban sweepstakes gaming https://t.co/hdPoa90nEl
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) January 7, 2026
The abstract reads: “The invoice requires a on line casino gaming operator that intends to conduct web gaming to submit a separate discover of intent to the Director of the Virginia Lottery for every web gaming platform that it intends to supply, as much as three, accompanied by a $2 million platform payment that’s to be deposited into the Web Gaming Platform Charge Holding Fund for the aim of funding start-up prices and different prices related to the implementation and creation of a gaming fee.”
New Jersey
Transferring away from Virginia, the Assembly Bill 6081 has been reported and referred to the Meeting Appropriations Committee this week in New Jersey, however it was initially launched in November of final yr. This is able to enable courier companies to promote immediate lottery recreation tickets electronically and would set up a self-exclusion checklist for State Lottery video games.
Florida
Over in Florida, Bill 1164 contains tweaks to the playing codes, with quite a few modifications included that have been proposed beforehand however weren’t handed. Inside this invoice, a few of the modifications embody “deleting language regarding elements to be thought of in appointments to the Florida Gaming Control Commission,” in addition to “defining the phrases Inside playing and Web sports activities wagering”, and extra.
Indiana
In Indiana, House Bill 1078 was launched on January 5 with this probably authorizing the lottery fee to function the sale of draw video games and eInstant video games over the Web. Additionally in Indiana, House Bill 1235 goals to authorize wagering on video gaming terminals in sure institutions.
Indiana Rep. Doug Miller is looking for an modification to HB 1052 that will legalize iGaming. Feels like the identical invoice the Home handed final yr.
Miller's modification would additionally create an issue playing fund.
Amend. #7 is about regulation, he stated
— Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) January 6, 2026
This is able to additionally see the institution of a licensing construction for contributors in video gaming, whereas imposing a video gaming wagering tax of 30% of adjusted gross receipts. Earlier this week, we additionally reported that testimony on Indiana Home Invoice 1052 was heard the identical day, calling for an outright ban on sweepstakes casinos.
Nebraska
Related payments have been filed in Missouri and Mississippi, whereas Nebraska Bill 421 has been carried over from final yr and this goals to permit an authorized gaming operator to conduct sports wagering via a web based sports activities wagering platform underneath the Nebraska Racetrack Gaming Act.
New York
Then, lastly, two payments have been launched in New York. The Bill 2614, which was initially launched in January of final yr, has been referred to racing, gaming and wagering. If handed, this is able to enable interactive gaming and lottery gaming within the state of New York.
The opposite, Bill 6030, was launched on January 7, with this to permit sure interactive poker video games to be thought of video games of talent quite than video games of luck. It contains definitions, required safeguards and minimal requirements too.
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